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Physics - Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)
From the Integrating Mathematical Problem Solving project by MEI, this series of activities explores how mechanical oscillations are important in many areas of everyday life. Sometimes they are useful, for example the motion of the suspension on a car, sometimes they are fun, for example a fairground 'pirate ship' and sometimes they are not welcome, for example the motion of a building during an earthquake. Understanding oscillations can therefore be very useful. The simplest form of oscillation occurs when a mass is attached to a spring.
This section covers the mathematical areas
• Mathematical modelling
• Simple Harmonic Motion
• Oscillations
• Hooke's Law
The resource consists of teacher notes and software for use in the activities. There then follows teacher notes and a powerpoint describing each of the five activities.
SHM Activity 1 Displacement and force
Explores the link between force and displacement when a particle moves with simple harmonic motion.
SHM Activity 2 Force and motion
Explores the relationship between force, displacement and acceleration when a particle moves with simple harmonic motion.
SHM Activity 3Displacement, velocity and acceleration.
Explores the relationship between displacement, velocity and acceleration when a particle moves with simple harmonic motion.
SHM Activity 4 The oscillation period and circular motion.
Explores the oscillation period and the link to circular motion when a particle moves with simple harmonic motion.
SHM Activity 5 Friction.
Explores the effect friction has when a particle moves with simple harmonic motion.
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Please be aware that resources have been published on the website in the form that they were originally supplied. This means that procedures reflect general practice and standards applicable at the time resources were produced and cannot be assumed to be acceptable today. Website users are fully responsible for ensuring that any activity, including practical work, which they carry out is in accordance with current regulations related to health and safety and that an appropriate risk assessment has been carried out.
Downloads
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Horizontal SHM experiment 27.7 KB
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Horizontal SHM mathematical model 42.85 KB
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Horizontal SHM software notes 213.42 KB
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SHM simulation 2.02 KB
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Activity one notes 580.99 KB
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Activity one 655.5 KB
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Activity two notes 629.71 KB
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Activity two 1.39 MB
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Activity three notes 605.22 KB
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Activity 4 notes 523.76 KB
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Activity five notes 348.12 KB
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Activity four 918 KB
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Activity three 898.5 KB
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Activity five 634 KB
Show downloads
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Horizontal SHM experiment 27.7 KB -
Horizontal SHM mathematical model 42.85 KB
-
Horizontal SHM software notes 213.42 KB
-
SHM simulation 2.02 KB -
Activity one notes 580.99 KB
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Activity one 655.5 KB -
Activity two notes 629.71 KB
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Activity two 1.39 MB
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Activity three notes 605.22 KB
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Activity 4 notes 523.76 KB
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Activity five notes 348.12 KB
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Activity four 918 KB
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Activity three 898.5 KB
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Activity five 634 KB
Download all files as a .zip6.42 MB
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